JUL
14

segway.jpgSegways Take Over Airports

For the longest time it looked like the Segway would be nothing more than a rich person's play thing, but now crowded airports in the US are adding them to give security and police a faster way to travel around, without taking up too much room.

They're winning favor at airports because they move relatively quickly and their electric motors give off no emissions. They also stop easily and allow users — who stand about eight inches off the ground — to stand out, a useful quality for seeing and being seen in crowded terminals.

Detroit Metro deploys its three Segways, each bought for $5,400, at McNamara Terminal, which is nearly a mile long. Used by police officers past the security checkpoint, they came in handy recently in aiding a passenger having a heart attack, and in chasing a traveler accused of stealing money and electronic items, says airport spokesman Michael Conway.

Some people are worried though, that the devices could cause more problems than the airport realizes. The Segway is able to get to a top speed of around 13 miles per hour, which when transporting a 200-pound person, could create some serious damage if an accident occurs.

Various airports are taking different approaches to the security and safety problem.

Phoenix Sky Harbor was one of the first airports to use them. Two years ago, it bought eight.

Most operations employees at Phoenix have taken 16 hours of training on Segways. Its Segways are programmed for a top speed of 6 mph, the lowest of three speed settings.

The real reason behind the push to get the human transport devices in the airports is really to allow staff and security to perform their job in airport complexes that are becoming the size of small cities. With a Segway you can move from one end of the terminal to the other, quickly and easily, and with the slight height advantage that the device gives, it makes it easier and faster than running, while also allows security to conserve their energy for when real emergencies or problems occur.

I love seeing the convergence of technology and travel, but I wish that it was for my use, as walking from Gate A to Gate V feels like it takes days, even with moving sidewalks.

Segways are airports' latest arrivals [USAToday.com]

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